Hi folks, thanks for visiting my SB to NZ page.

               A few of you may know, I was born in New Zealand on May 1, 1962. I had the opportunity to live with a number of relatives from both of my parents' families while my mother and her new husband created a home for me and my brother, in San Diego, California. My brother Rick and I were flown to the States in, I think, June of 1969. I had just turned 7, Rick was 8. Though I have often wanted to return to visit those who took care of me, as well as my oldest brother Phillip, my Sister Kara, and numerous other relatives, I have not.

                I have been reluctant to go because I fear it would be burdensome on my family. With a daughter near college age I still find it hard to justify. I found out over Christmas that a family reunion is being planned for January 3 - 5, 2014 and my family has encouraged me to make the trip. That is why I have created this page, to ask for your help. I need to raise $5,000 by January of 2014 to get me there and back, I have already raised $1000.00. The flight is approximately $2000 round trip. Because I am self-employed, my lost income will be about $2000 for the time I am gone, (about 3 weeks).  I would love to take my family but that would mean my daughter missing 3 weeks of school in her Junior year and Lisa taking a 3 week leave of absence from her teaching job and the cost would be up around $10,000, which is also hard to justify.

                I would like to offer our original music in return for your donations. The music is available at http://www.blbrumby.com/send-brett-to-nz/. It will be accessible to everyone, donation or not. I will also make a personalized cd of songs in various stages of creation for donations of $50 or more. I will write and record to the best of my ability, a new song for you for donations of $300 or more. Lisa and I will play your party on a non-holiday weekend, Saturday or Sunday afternoon for donations of $500.

                I am a self-employed musician. I run 2 open mics, perform solo acoustic shows. I play duos with my wife of 15 years and work in three bands. My wife, Lisa is a high school history teacher and we have a 16 year old daughter whom we are incredibly proud of. She will be in college in 2 years. Our life is good, I am grateful for it and I cannot afford this trip without your help.

                My natural father passed away when I was 18. I don't remember when my grandparents on either side passed. I fear I've been quite disconnected for some time. In 2005, my Uncle Maui, who built houses in New Zealand, got the opportunity to come to the states to work on a home in North Conway, NH. He was my natural father's closest brother and he was going to be working 2 hours from where I lived. We made arrangements to meet and I brought him home for a huge family picnic on July 4th weekend. He is a lovely man and it was a powerful visit. I am grateful to have that time with him in my memory.

       In May of 2012, Phillip came to the states to visit my mother in Kentucky, my brother Rick in Florida and me. He stayed with us for 2 weeks and we truly became brothers again. Phillip is also a musician and has a beautiful voice. We made a video of us playing and singing together which you can find on this page.

                Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope that you are willing and able to make a donation to help get me to New Zealand. I have a lot of my family there, most of whom I have not seen in over 44 years and some I have never met. No gift is too small and all are appreciated.